An extra screening of People of a Feather - January 17th, 7pm, Avalon Mall

Friends, there’s one other thing you should do before this storm hits: go see People of a Feather.

It’s incredible. And it’s only playing at the mall until tomorrow night.

Inspired by films like Baraka and Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, People of a Feather says more with images and sound than it does with words. It’s a documentary about the Inuit of the Belcher Islands, near James Bay, and their relationship with the eider duck. Save for narration here and there, there aren’t any formal interviews or talking heads in the film; if there are voices at all, they arise through conversation and action.

But mostly, you’re pulled through a compelling narrative by time-lapse images of the Arctic. It’s an impressive accomplishment.

Eider ducks live up in Hudson Bay all year round. They mostly hang out in big gashes in the sea ice, diving down to the bottom of the ocean to grab sea urchins, which they eat. Whole. In one swallow.

Shown through (strictly non-cheesy) re-enactments, the Inuit of 100 years ago used the ducks for food and clothes -- they made soft, warm jackets from the feathers to keep them warm when they hunted seal. Today, they still eat the ducks and use their down to stuff jackets. But today, the ducks aren't as healthy or as plentiful.

That’s mostly because of hydroelectric power -- specifically, a series of hydroelectric dams belonging to Quebec near the James Bay watershed. In the winter, when people in Quebec are cranking up the heat and requiring more power, the dams open up and warm fresh water gushes out, seeping out onto the sea ice. That water freezes quickly, and it freezes over the big gaps in the sea ice. The ducks wind up piling into tiny cracks, and having to dive farther and farther out to find urchins.

In one gut-wrenching underwater scene, we see a duck desperately trying to poke its head back up through ice to get some air. Exhausted, it finally dies.

The director, Joel Heath, is now working with the Arctic Eider Society to encourage the decision-makers behind Muskrat Falls to look at incorporating hydrogen fuel technology into the project. Iceland, for example, captures power at hydroelectric dams and converts it to hydrogen fuel, stored in cells. Those cells then fuel Iceland’s cargo ships.

Heath is originally from St. John’s, and he was up there doing research for his PhD on the eider ducks and the sea ice. A long-time photographer, he built a special underwater camera to take footage of the ducks diving for urchin, which the BBC wound up using. He’s been working on the doc for almost ten years and it’s paid off: it screened at HotDocs, and has won major awards for direction and cinematography.

I caught up with Heath yesterday to talk about the film. Sadly, my recorder died today (R.I.P., little guy) and I only had a small part of our conversation transcribed. Here it is, though -- Joel Heath on Idle No More:

With Idle No More happening, it’s really crazy seeing underneath the layers of people’s perspectives on First Nations. So, I think it’s really important to show, as the film shows, that their culture being alive and that they have an economy and they’re living off the land, and the resources around them are really important. To show that they’re not all just drunks and staying home, they’re out there bringing back food to the community, and it’s local free-range organic food. They’re living sustainably, and we have a lot to learn about being local and sustainable from these communities, and actually having an economy that’s linked to our local resources. And their innovation, they’re such amazing craftsmen. In the film, you see them making harpoon heads, making rope out of seal -- their skills are so amazing, and they’re still alive and well.

I imagine you’re pretty close with a lot of the Inuit people in your film after working with them for so long. How do they feel about Idle No More? From my perspective, it seems like it could be revolutionary, and really bring about a lot of change. Do they feel that way?

I think so. There has been some good coverage, they’re really getting the word out, but the amazing thing has been all the ignorant and racist comments coming back on everything. But that shows how people in Canada just really don’t have any idea about what’s going on. So that’s why I think it’s really important to get a film like this out there, and show the other side, because people only see the bad news.

Here's a link to an article in The Telegram with more information and here is the Facebook event page for the St. John's screenings.

SJIWFF30 • OCT. 16-20, 2019

Remembering Michelle ❤️ If you would like to donate to the RBC Michelle Jackson Emerging Filmmaker Award, please visit our @canadahelps page, linked on our site under Donate. Give a one-time or monthly gift. With your support, a new artist will create her own short film, receive professional mentorship, explore and grow. #SJIWFF #mjaward #rbcmjaward #donate #femalefilmmakerfriday #memorial #womeninfilm #yyt #memorial #nlarts

This is what @telefilm_canada’s TALENT TO WATCH looks like! We were thrilled to nominated @littleorphansfilm, who were successfully funded and are going to camera this month! We want to support more women make their first feature. Apply to us by Feb. 1 to be nominated. Website in our profile! #Repost @emmybridger @iamruthlawrence @martutsi @streely #cancon #newfoundlandwomeninfilm #SJIWFF #nlarts
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It’s all happening! #littleorphansfilm #featurefilm #womeninfilm #nfldwomeninfilm #prep

Happy New Year! We are opening for film submissions January 28th. Submit your shorts and features of all genres. From docs, animation, experimental to dramas, we want to see it all! Open to female-identifying directors and/or writers from around the world. We just recently moved to @filmfreeway so find us there to learn more or visit our website. Be a part of our banner 30th year. Hope to see you October 2019! #SJIWFF30 #femalefilmmakerfriday #woneninfilm #explorenl #yyt #film

Group 2019 resolution, please? More diversity in front of and behind the cameras! 🎥 Don’t forget that you can help us showcase, support and celebrate women in film by donating to #SJIWFF easily online- link in our bio! Donate before year end and use your tax-deductible receipt during tax time! #nlarts #womeninfilm ・・・
#repost from @gdigm ✅ Check the Stats. ⠀
Diversity DOES matter. People want to see themselves on screen. #seeitbeit⠀
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2018 has been a year of heightened awareness and change. However, we have not reached a tipping point. Our analysis of the top 100 grossing family films of 2017 found that male characters still outnumbered female characters two-to-one and are being seen and heard 3 times more than female co-leads. And for women of color these numbers are even smaller.

Merry Christmas! Have a safe and happy Holiday everyone! 💕 #Repost @sjsowc
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Honour a strong woman in your life with this handcrafted pewter ornament. Exclusive to the SJSWC, the Strong Woman Symbol ornament was designed and made in NL by @saltwater_pewter. All proceeds support the St. John’s Women’s Centre. Order yours today on our website (link in bio), look under the ‘Swag’ tab.

It's our last day in the office before the holidays 🎅 🎄
We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season! We'll see you in the New Year 🎉 ready for film submissions for #SJIWFF30!

There's still time to grab one of our iconic #SJIWFF29 ⚡️ lightning bolt t-shirts! Pick-up before Christmas is available until tomorrow, December 20th. Limited sizes available so buy yours online today! Check out our link in bio to shop! #ShopLocal

Looking to make a holiday donation as a gift? Or trying to get a charitable donation in before tax season? As a not-for-profit + registered charity, donations are crucial for our future. Help us fundraise for our 30th & support #womeninfilm with an easy one-time or monthly donation. Tax-deductible & very appreciated! Link in bio to donate! #SJIWFF30

PO Box 984, Station CSt. John’s, NLA1C 5M3

p 709-754-3141f 709-754-0049

info@womensfilmfestival.com

We respectfully acknowledge the territory in which we gather as the ancestral homelands of the Beothuk, and the island of Newfoundland as the ancestral homelands of the Mi’kmaq and Beothuk. We would also like to recognize the Inuit of Nunatsiavut and NunatuKavut and the Innu of Nitassinan, and their ancestors, as the original people of Labrador.